The British Screenwriters’ Awards 2017

This year or the fourth time the writing community gathered together to celebrate the best and brightest among us and laud our craft, without which not much good film or TV would exist at all.

This night is ours, it’s our time to cheer great writing and laugh together at the blood sweat and tears that goes into creating it, a torturous, gruelling, and delightful, rewarding, fulfilling process that only someone else who’s attempted it can even begin to comprehend. It’s a weird thing that we do but together in our weirdness we find ourselves at home.

Hosted by screenwriter and comedian Deborah Frances-White who liberally entertained us with her Hollywood war stories and long path to breakthrough and a fine night was had by all.

I suppose in the forth year the event can no long be called a fledgling awards, but in terms of changing the zeitgeist of writers, we’re really just beginning. As we continue to edify great work we empower and inspire new work and new writers to share the magic inside them through the medium of screen.

This year is the second year of the, the ‘Fucking Awesome Award’ for incredible achievement in writing and outstanding contribution to the industry. Created last year for writer/director Simon Fitzmaurice who after becoming paralysed with Motor Neuron Disease (ALS) used only the gaze of his eyes to write and direct his first feature. The accolade this year continues and goes to an equally stellar writer who’s incredible works have made him a household name and inspired devotion across the seven continents.

The 2017 Fucking Awesome Award is given to George R R Martin.

As no dragons were available a proxy collected the award on George’s behalf and delivered his heartfelt speech. The crystal trophy will be winging it’s way to him shortly by raven and we are assured by Chris Jones that it will, at a push, definitely kill a white walker.

Outstanding Newcomer for British Feature Film Writing

100 Streets by Leon Butler

Eddie The Eagle by Sean Macaulay

WINNER: The Girl with all the Gifts by Mike Carey

The Pass by John Donnelly

Prevenge by Alice Lowe

Under The Shadow by Babak Anvari

Best British Children’s Television

The Amazing World of Gumball by the writing team

Class Dismissed by the writing team

Counterfeit Cat by the writing team

Eve by the writing team

WINNER: The Worst Witch by the writing team

Outstanding Newcomer for British Television Writing

Apple Tree Yard by Amanda Coe and Louise Doughty

Damilola, Our Beloved Boy by Levi David Addai

WINNER: Fleabag by Phoebe Waller-Bridge

The Hollow Crown by Ben Power

NW by Rachel Bennette (Based on novel by Zadie Smith)

Best British TV Drama Writing

WINNER: Three Girls by Nicole Taylor

The Crown by Peter Morgan

Little Boy Blue by Jeff Pope

The Moorside by Neil McKay

National Treasure by Jack Thorne

Best Crime Writing on Television (Series/Single Drama)

Broadchurch by Chris Chibnall

Born to Kill by Kate Ashfield, Tracey Malone and Kate Gartside

Broken by Jimmy McGovern, Shaun Duggan, Colette Kane and Nick Leather

WINNER: Line of Duty by Jed Mercurio

The Missing by Harry Williams and Jack Williams

Unforgotten by Chris Lang

Best Comedy Writing on Television

Camping by Julia Davis

This Country by Charlie Cooper and Daisy May Cooper

WINNER: The Durrells by Simon Nye and Gerald Durrell

Flowers by Will Sharpe

People Just Do Nothing by Asim Chaudhry, Steve Stamp and Allan Mustafa

Upstart Crow by Ben Elton

Best British Feature Film Writing

Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie by Jennifer Saunders

American Honey by Andrea Arnold

Free Fire by Amy Jump and Ben Wheatley

T2 by John Hodge (Based on the novel by Irvine Welsh)

WINNER: A United Kingdom by Guy Hibbert (Based on the novel by Susan Williams)

Buy a ticket to the LSF

The London Screenwriters' Festival is owned and operated by London Creative Festivals Limited, Ealing Studios, Ealing Green, London W5 5EP

Terms and conditions

If you need to cancel your ticket purchase you can get a full refund up until 30 days prior to the first event. After that we cannot offer refunds but we can offer a ‘rollover’ of your pass to the following year. You can only ‘rollover’ if you notify us of your non attendance BEFORE the festival. Refunds will be paid back promptly although we reserve the right to charge up to a 10% admin fee in some cases. In some circumstances, refunds may take place after the event due to staff workload. We aim to be prompt but it could take up to 30 days to process. Alternatively, tickets are transferable to other people if you can find someone to replace you and we are happy to change the name on the ticket. Please allow 48 hours for a change of name on the pass to take place. We reserve the right to decline admission and offer a full refund at our discretion. We reserve the right to change the venue and dates of the event. Tickets rolled over from a previous year(s) or event(s) are not eligible for a refund. We reserve the right to cancel the event and offer a full refund.

Speaker and session disclaimer

The London Screenwriters' Festival sets out to secure agreements from each speaker and workshop leader prior to announcing their involvement and commitment to appear. However, one or more speakers may be unable to appear or may not arrive at their scheduled time for any number of reasons. The Festival cannot be responsible if a speaker does not appear as scheduled. Additionally, the London Screenwriters' Festival sessions and workshops may be cancelled or rescheduled at any time; and the London Screenwriters' Festival retains the right to change the content of any session at any time.